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Ask HN: Why Can't I Watch SouthPark in English in Germany?

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Re: Ask HN: Why Can't I Watch SouthPark in English in Germany?

#2
...we bought the rights to distribute in a huge package with dozens or even hundreds of shows, and apart from a few special-interest titles (GoT, TBBT etc.), demand for English-language programming is pretty low. We're certainly not paying double price so that a few thousand users can watch one of their favorite shows in English.

Re: Ask HN: Why Can't I Watch SouthPark in English in Germany?

#3
I'd turn the question around and ask why in Germany TV shows shouldn't be broadcasted in German.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubbing_(filmmaking)#Germany,_... "According to a European study, Austria is the country with the highest rejection rate (more than 70 percent) of subtitles, followed by Italy, Spain and Germany"

Re: Ask HN: Why Can't I Watch SouthPark in English in Germany?

#4
post #3

I'd turn the question around and ask why in Germany TV shows shouldn't be broadcasted in German. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubbing_(filmmaking)#Germany,_... "According to a European study, Austria is the country with the highest rejection rate (more than 70 percent) of subtitles, followed by Italy, Spain and Germany"

The question is about removing the option to watch it in the original.

Re: Ask HN: Why Can't I Watch SouthPark in English in Germany?

#5
post #2

...we bought the rights to distribute in a huge package with dozens or even hundreds of shows, and apart from a few special-interest titles (GoT, TBBT etc.), demand for English-language programming is pretty low. We're certainly not paying double price so that a few thousand users can watch one of their favorite shows in English.

Right, ok. So, SouthPark's parent company has to pay for being able to stream the original, English version on their website? (just clarifying what distribution rights means in this case) Is there any way to justify such practice, from a utilitarian perspective of a net-benefit for society?

Re: Ask HN: Why Can't I Watch SouthPark in English in Germany?

#6
post #2

...we bought the rights to distribute in a huge package with dozens or even hundreds of shows, and apart from a few special-interest titles (GoT, TBBT etc.), demand for English-language programming is pretty low. We're certainly not paying double price so that a few thousand users can watch one of their favorite shows in English.

Right, ok. So, SouthPark's parent company has to pay for being able to stream the original, English version on their website? (just clarifying what distribution rights means in this case) Is there any way to justify such practice, from a utilitarian perspective of a net-benefit for society?

I assumed you mean something like Netflix. At first I even thought you were talking about television.

Re: Ask HN: Why Can't I Watch SouthPark in English in Germany?

#7
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right, ok. So, SouthPark's parent company has to pay for being able to stream the original, English version on their website? (just clarifying what distribution rights means in this case) Is there any way to justify such practice, from a utilitarian perspective of a net-benefit for society?

I assumed you mean something like Netflix. At first I even thought you were talking about television.

I meant streaming platforms, where the cost of providing original voice over is close to zero, compared to the benefit of learning a new language.